Food Safety Legislation

In our November issue we feature a food safety section, in which we present the best GHRI-tested refrigerators, food thermometers, food storage containers, cutting boards as well as the most effective way to clean a sponge, and more. Being careful about food safety is essential, as evidenced by the 75 million Americans who become ill each year as a result of foodborne illness. If that number scares you, you're not alone. Sixty-four percent of Americans feel the government is doing too little to inspect food, particularly foods imported from other countries.

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Last week I attended the Global Food Safety Policy Forum in Washington DC. The focus of this year's conference was inspecting and monitoring the safety of imported food, which accounts for about 15% of the food we eat. Speakers ranged from industry experts to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, a passionate crusader for food safety and the sponsor of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which passed the House of Representatives this July. A similar bill will be voted on in the Senate next year.

Every speaker stressed the need to improve safety of imported foods, and often cited the fact that of the 189,000 international sites allowed to import food to the United States, less than 200 were inspected last year.
Those kinds of lapses leave too much to chance and can lead to outbreaks like we've seen in the past few years.

When it comes to keeping your family safe, there's plenty you can do. Good habits at home like keeping food refrigerated, sanitizing work surfaces, and cooking meats thoroughly will all drastically reduce your risk of becoming sick. Check out the November issue of Good Housekeeping to see our full Food-Safety Guide and click the links below to see our reviews of everything you need to cook, prep, and store food safely in your own home.